Publication #17-08-011 December 2017

WHY IT MATTERS

PIPELINE OIL SPILL RISKS

The 2013 Pegasus Pipeline spill near Little Rock, Ark., released oil into a neighborhood. (Credit: EPA)

Pipeline spills could have

significant impacts on

communities, environments, and

economies. Oil spills to

waterways are of particular

concern. Water movement rapidly

distributes oil over wide areas,

damaging plants and killing fish

and wildlife. Spills below ground

can contaminate or ruin drinking

water and irrigation wells.

Our preparedness work requires

industry to develop contingency

plans and test them with oil spill

drills. Our geographic response

planning develops tactics specific

to waterways threatened by oil

spills. These locally tailored plans

help emergency responders

respond quickly, so we can

reduce spill impacts.

Contact:

Linda Pilkey-Jarvis, Preparedness

Section Manager, Spills Program

360-407-7447

linda.pilkey-jarvis@ecy.wa.gov

Impacts of a pipeline spill in Washington

In Washington State, 820 miles of pipelines carry about 7 billion gallons

of petroleum products through local communities. They run along and

under rivers, lakes, streams, wetlands, and Puget Sound. A spill could

significantly impact public, environmental, and economic health, as well

as cultural and historical resources.

X Public health: fume inhalation or injury from possible explosions

or fires

X Water supply: long-term effects on communities or agriculture

because of groundwater or aquifer damage

X Wildlife: fish, wildlife, and commercial and recreational fisheries

harmed

X Economy: commerce and recreation affected by port and marina

closures; cleanup costs could exceed $1 billion

X Tribal resources: land, subsistence, and culture affected in

potentially permanent ways

X Transportation: marine and highway traffic disrupted by the spill

and response work

In Washington, 42 pipeline incidents have spilled 581 gallons since 2007.

Pipeline incidents are on the rise nationwide

Between 2006 and 2016, over 1,100 significant* pipeline incidents

occurred nationwide, and the annual frequency of pipeline incidents

increased by 64 percent. Annual costs for incidents ranged from

$53 million to $1.2 billion. In November 2017, the Keystone Pipeline

spilled 210,000 gallons to agricultural land in South Dakota.

* A significant incident is defined as one that results in serious injury or fatality, costs more than $50,000,

releases more than five barrels of volatile fluids such as gasoline or 50 barrels of other liquids, or results in

a fire or explosion.

Publication #17-08-011 December 2017

Economy: Cost more than $100 million; closure of

Bellingham Bay and I-5; property damage

Environment: 236,000 gallons spilled into Whatcom and Hanna

creeks; loss of vegetation, fish, and invertebrates

Community: 3 fatalities; evacuations; water treatment plant

damage

Special accommodations: To request ADA accommodation for disabilities, or printed materials in a format

for the visually impaired, call us at 360-407-7455 or visit www.ecy.wa.gov/accessibility.html. Persons with

impaired hearing, call Washington Relay Service at 711. Persons with speech disability, call TTY at 877-833-6341.

Pipeline Oil Spill Risks

The resulting fire left 1.5 miles of Whatcom Creek and its tributaries smoldering. (Credit: Washington Ecology)

Examples of pipeline spill impacts

Olympic Pipeline oil spill, Bellingham, Washington

In 1999, this pipeline leaked 277,000 gallons of gasoline.

The incident caused significant harm.

Economy: Cost more than $57 million in property damage; 130

property owner lawsuits; about $5 million in penalties

Environment: 210,000 gallons spilled into a neighborhood and

Dawson Cove, oiling nearly 200 animals

Community: 22 evacuations due to volatile organic compounds and

benzene; removal of contaminated soil and plants Oil spilled to private property and waterways flowing toward a fishable, swimmable lake. (Credit: EPA)

Pegasus Pipeline oil spill, Mayflower, Arkansas

In 2013, this pipeline released 210,000 gallons of heavy

crude oil into a neighborhood near Little Rock.

Economy: Cost more than $1.2 billion; property damage

Environment: 1.2 million gallons of diluted bitumen spilled into

Kalamazoo River; fish, mussels, turtles, and birds

harmed

Community: Evacuations; drinking water restrictions Thick, sticky oils coat wildlife, causing immobility, smothering, or loss of insulation. (Credit: EPA)

Kalamazoo River oil spill, Marshall, Michigan

The National Transportation Safety Board called this spill

the costliest onshore cleanup in U.S. history.